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“2023 is finally going to be my year” I proclaim to my haggard reflection in the mirror, as I literally and figuratively am drowning in revision notes, coursework and the stack of empty mugs that I’ve collected in my room. Naturally, as exam season rolls around once again, I’ve made targeted, achievable and realistic plans to maximise my potential. Such as redownloading TikTok, for purely educational purposes I promise.
If you thought Bridgeton presented the perfect enemies to lovers’ relationship, you clearly haven’t witnessed my relationship with StudyTok. A selection of seemingly useful study tips which makes me want to run out and purchase a pack of pastel highlighters immediately.
Unfortunately, just because a study hack or revision technique is presented in a cutesy aesthetic Tik Tok, doesn’t mean it’s actually useful. So I’m here to do another roundup of popular study hacks, tips and tricks that I’ve seen on StudyTok this semester!
You can check out my previous article here for another selection which I’ve tried and tested before!
Kahoot Method
There’s nothing like the Kahoot soundtrack to send me into a wave of ultra-hypercompetitivity (that’s a new phrase I’ve just invented). So when I saw this method on my FYP I just had to try it.
Method:
- Simply type 1 hour Kahoot Music into the Youtube search bar and study away!
Rating: 2 /5 Kahoot Answer Streaks
This seemed like the perfect idea in theory, after all if the Kahoot music doesn’t fill you with anticipation and the desire to crush your enemies (anatomy of the upper limb in my case) nothing will. But that’s precisely what caused the issue, I found it so hard to focus on my revision because I was in a state of constant stress with no immediate payout and I was far too distracted to actually pay attention. I’ll stick to the ambient sounds of my washing machine and road construction next time.
Blurting
Maybe the pastel highlighters weren’t such a terrible impulse purchase after all! Blurting
Method
- Choose a subject/subsection that you want to revise and write this as a header in the middle of your page
- Write down anything and everything that you remember about that study topic, whether it be facts or questions
- Once you’ve exhausted your knowledge base, revise everything that you don’t remember, or answer any questions you wrote down
Rating 3 /5 Pastel Highlighters
This method includes a lot of study techniques which actually have evidenced based research to back them up. It relies heavily on active recall, the process of actively retrieving information from your mind, which is a great way to retain information!
Personally, I found this to be a good starting point to help me focus my revision on the weaker subjects, but that’s where the usefulness ends for me. It doesn’t encourage a systematic way of thinking and that’s what I really need in a revision technique. But it’s a great technique to use if you’re just starting out revising and have no clue where to begin!
Cornell Method
Unfortunately this study method doesn’t involve ice cream (what do you mean they don’t have Cornell ice cream in the UK?). It’s a method of taking notes which supposedly makes them easier to read and revise from!
Method
- You’re going to divide your page into 3 sections and title them, I’ll put a little diagram in below:
- Then simply fill in each section according to the title, once you make you main notes, pull out the key points and summarise everything before you move on
Rating 5/5 Icecream cones
This is honestly one of the most useful hacks to come from StudyTok that I’ve ever used. I’ve always found note taking to be a really passive process and usually have to end up remaking them by exam season. I don’t always have time to fill in each section during a life lecture, I’m hanging on for dear life usually, but I use it to consolidate my main notes after the lecture!